Now, it is pper-time in Orleans: Here, through this grate, I can count every one, Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee.- Where is best place to make our battery next. Gar. I think, at the north gate for there stand lords. Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. [GARGRAVE fall. [Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and Sir THO. Sal. O Lord! have mercy on us, wretched sinners. Gar. O Lord! have mercy on me, woeful man. Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath cross'd Speak Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak: [us ?— How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men? One of thine eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off!- That hath contriv'd this woeful tragedy! He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me, Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn: [An Alarum: it thunders and lightens. What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens? Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise? Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, my lord! the French have gather'd The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd, [head: A holy prophetess, new risen up, Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [SALISBURY lifts himself up and groans. Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan! It irks his heart he cannot be reveng'd.Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you, Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish, Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, And then we 'll try what dastard Frenchmen dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the bodies. SCENE V.-The Same. Before one of the Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursues the Dauphin, and drives him; then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them ; A woman clad in armour chaseth them. Enter LA PUCELLE. Here, here she comes.-I'll have a bout with thee: Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come : I must go victual Orleans forthwith. O'ertake me if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. This day is ours, as many more shall be. [PUCELLE enters the town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; 1 It was an old popular belief, that if a witch lost blood, her power was ended. 2 hungry in f. e. VOL. V.-3 I know not where I am, nor what I do. A witch by fear, not force, like Hannibal, Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists: [A short Alarum. Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. [Alarum. Another skirmish. It will not be.-Retire into your trenches: You all consented unto Salisbury's death, For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans In spite of us, or aught that we could do. O! would I were to die with Salisbury. The shame hereof will make me hide my head. [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and his Forces. SCENE VI.-The Same. Flourish. Enter, on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls! Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves2; Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astræa's daughter, How shall I honour thee for this success? Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.- More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Reig. Why ring not out the bells aloud throughout the town? Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires And feast and banquet in the open streets, To celebrate the joy that God hath given us. Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and joy, 1 Pope reads: timorous. 2 wolves is from the second folio When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. [Flourish. Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-The Same. Enter to the Gates, a French Sergeant, and Two Sentinels. Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant. If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. [Exit Sergeant. 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead march. Tal. Lord regent, and redoubted Burgundy, By whose approach the regions of Artois, Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us, This happy night the Frenchmen are secure, Having all day carous'd and banqueted. Embrace we, then, this opportunity, As fitting best to quittance their deceit, Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery. Bed. Coward of France !-how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. But what's that, Pucelle, whom they term so pure ? Bed. A maid, and be so martial? Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere long; If underneath the standard of the French, She carry armour, as she hath begun. Tal. Well, let them practice and converse with spirits; God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways, That if it chance the one of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force. Bed. Agreed. I'll to yon corner. Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury, for thee, and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appear [The English scale the Walls, crying St. George! Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault! Frenchmen leap over the Walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, half ready' and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords! what, all unready so? Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well. Reig. 'T was time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber doors. Alen. Of all exploits, since first I followed arms, Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous, or desperate than this. Bast. I think, this Talbot be a fiend of hell. Reig. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. 1 Half-dressed. |